It’s that time of the year when we focus on gratitude and reflect on everything we’re thankful to have in life, especially the things we may take for granted. This year, we invite you to express your gratitude to three essential aspects of your life: yourself, others, and the Earth. It’s instinctive to show others your grateful mind, but you might find it a bit more difficult to show that same love and gratitude for yourself, and beyond that, the Earth. That’s ok—it’s normal to be nervous or feel a bit awkward, especially if expressing your feelings is not your forte. We’re here to help!
Here are our tips to give to best thanks to yourself, others, and Mother Earth.
1: Gratitude to Yourself
Self-love and self-care are the most powerful aspects of your well-being. Set aside time to be alone and reflect on the things you do for yourself that you’re grateful for. For example, do you pack yourself a lunch every day that feeds your body with the nutrients to work productively? What about being grateful to yourself for exercising to maintain health or driving yourself safely from place to place? Are you grateful that you’re a good listener to others? There are countless acts you do for yourself everyday that keep your body, mind, and spirit alive and functioning, whether you are aware of them or not. It’s easy to take these acts for granted because it’s something you do everyday as second nature. However, the point is to shed light on these seemingly mundane acts of self-care and expressing your gratitude and compliments to yourself for doing what you do best.
2: Gratitude to Others
Think about the people who’ve helped you through either a small deed or have influenced you in a big way. Your parents, your best friend, or perhaps someone you haven’t reached out to in a while. If there was something they did that was meaningful to you, it’s good habit to express your appreciation toward them because people never know how you really feel about them until you say it. We all like to feel special through personalized and detailed messages that convey the heart. For example, avoid simply saying “I’m really grateful for you,” and ending it there. Mention specific reasons why you’re grateful for them. Remember to keep the situation light. If the scenario doesn’t turn out as perfectly as you imagined it, don’t worry because what’s more important than the actual words you say is the way you deliver the words. If you keep your mind sincere, your heart will be felt by the receiving person.
3: Gratitude to Earth
Have you ever thought about being thankful to the sun for rising another day? Could you imagine what would happen to life if the sun got tired of its job and decided not to show up one day? All life—including yours and mine—would perish without the sun. We benefit at every moment with clean oxygen that supplies our brain with the nutrients to function and keep us alive. All of the food we eat that becomes our cells are grown from the Earth. We enjoy the sweetness of fruits and freshness of vegetables. Hot summer days and the coolness of water. A cool breeze on a nice day and the chill of winter. Beautiful views and scenery. The animals we bond to and other insects and living organisms that keep our ecosystem alive. The Earth provides us with endless love and bounty so we must take care of it as our source of life. Reflecting deeply on the constant love that surrounds you will fill your heart with contentment and gratitude.
Gratitude is one of the highest vibrational energies for the human consciousness, so making an active choice to express your gratitude for yourself, loved ones, and the Earth, will affect your body and mind positively. Around the holidays is typically when we’re most aware of the feelings of gratitude, but don’t forget to give it your attentive mind throughout the year, too. Take these steps and share gratitude with friends, family, yourself, and mother nature—you’ll be surprised what a difference it can make for everyone!
We wish you the best, we’re thankful for you, and happy holidays.